Albertine Donker

Iron Function and Iron Handling from Fetus to Adult 61 2 Figure 1. Iron content and iron flows in the human body DIETARY IRON INTAKE DIETARY IRON ABSORPTION NON ABSORBED DIETARY IRON EPITHELIAL IRON LOSS IRON RECYCLING NON ERYTHROPOIETIC IRON USAGE IRON STORAGE 8 5 D B C 6 7 1 3 4 2 ERYTHROPOIETIC IRON USAGE A F E H G Iron content and iron flows for the different compartments during the developmental stages from fetus to adulthood in iron replete individuals. Iron content and flows are based on the infancy-childhood- puberty model. Numbers refer to the various human body iron compartments of Table 2A. Capital letters refer to the systemic iron flows in the human body as given in Table 2B. Table 2. Iron content (per compartment in mg, A) and iron flows (mg/day, B) Numbers for the compartments and capital letter for the iron flows refer to those in Figure 1. A. Compartment Neonate a Infant b Child c Adolescent d Adult 1. Transferrin 0.2 211 0.2 212 1 213 2.5 213 4 1,201,202 2. Erythroblasts in bone marrow 1,201 20 35 85 215 300 201,202 3. Red blood cells in circulation 1,201 190 146,214 280 147 725 60,215 1800 60 2500 1,201,202 4. Circulating macrophages 45 65 175 430 600 202,205 5. Muscular system 16 214 5 214 35 95 130 1,201 6. Central nervous system ? ? ? ? ? 7. Cellular level 10 15 45 110 150 201 8. Liver, spleen 65 214 100 147 400 215 700 60,198 1000 1,201,202 Total 270-340 125,214 450-500 147 1500 3500 4000-5000